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I cannot say his full name, rank or serial number.
I cannot say where he is located in our President's war.
All I can do is share his beautiful young face with you.
Let you see his eyes, eyes filled with youthful happiness.
A young man at the peak of his life, vibrant and so alive.
I cannot even express the daily constant fear I feel every time the news people announce to the world that December 2006 was the month with the most casualties in the Iraq war.
That for a week after that I sit in paralyzed fear that a government official will walk up to my door, ring the doorbell and I will see an Army Official with a Chaplain and a slip of paper saying how sorry they are my son died in their asinine war.
I have to think, will they try and comfort me?
Will they try desperately to dry my tears as my heart has died also because my son and my best friend died for his country?
I don’t agree with this war. There I have said the words.
I hate this war. To me it is another Vietnam. UN tenable.
We cannot win this one, just like we could not win Vietnam.
This war is in a country where they have their own way of dealing with their problems, ways we don’t understand.
I say let them deal with their problems as they have for thousands of years.
Lets just bring our fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, uncles, aunts and cousins home and leave the Iraqis to their own war. We cannot help them when they cannot even want to help themselves.
**********************************
Psalm 91
King James Version
Abiding in the Shadow of the Almighty
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Thank you Barb for this beautiful Scripture
The Military
The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half
man, half boy.
Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country.
He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's; but he has never collected unemployment either.
He's a recent High School graduate;
He was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away.
He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155 mm howitzer.
He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.
He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark.
He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.
He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional.
He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march.
He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient.
He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other.
He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.
he sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle.
He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.
If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food.
He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.
He has learned to use his hands like weapons
and weapons like they were his hands.
He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.
He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay and still find ironic humor in it all.
He has seen more sufferingand death then he should have in his short lifetime.
He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them.
He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.
He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around him
who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking.
In an odd twist, day in and day out,
far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.
Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom .
Beardless or not, he is not a boy.
He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years
He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.
Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.
And now we even have women over there in danger,
doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.
As you go to bed tonight, remember our troops....
Slleeping at a short lull, in a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets.
Please God
One cold March day,
the Army took my son away.
He traveled to a faraway place
and now I can't see his precious face.
We write letters and talk on the phone,
but all I can think of is when will he be home?
I miss him so much my heart aches inside.
But at the same time, my heart is filled with pride.
He is fighting a war that I'm not sure is right,
but with him my heart is every night.
I pray and I pray that he will be safe
and back in our lives by God's good grace.
God, keep him in your arms
and protect him from harm.
Please keep him healthy and strong,
and bring him back quickly to where he belongs.
Help him do his job the best that he can,
and always help him to be a good man.
I'm so very proud of the man that he has become
and will always have respect for this man I call son.
Thank you God for giving him to me.
He is the greatest gift there ever could be.
I know that someday you will take him away,
but please, please God, don't let it be today.
By Deb Hagerty
Copyright 2003
An Army Mom's Prayer
God Bless my son as he falls to sleep
I pray this night the peace to keep
When he wakes to start the day
I pray that love will lead the way
If there's danger and if there's strife
Please send Angels to guard his life
Keep him safe and free from fear
Bless my soldier and keep him near
Until he's home
Until he's safe
Bring peace to our hearts
And strength to our faith.
By Lisa Gifford
(Army Mom)
Copyright 2004
Prayer For Our Brave Men and Women
"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.
Amen."
Slightly changed lyrics from the "Sting" song aptly named 'Russians'
In Europe and America, there's a growing feeling of hysteria
Conditioned to respond to all the threats
In the rhetorical speeches of the Communists
Kim ll Sung said we will bury you
I don't subscribe to this point of view
It would be such an ignorant thing to do
If the North Koreans love their children too
How can I save my little boy from Oppenheimer's deadly toy
There is no monopoly in common sense
On either side of the political fence
We share the same biology
Regardless of ideology
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Iranians love their children too
There is no historical precedent
To put the words in the mouth of the President
There's no such thing as a winnable war
It's a lie that we don't believe anymore
Mr. George Bush says we will protect you
I don't subscribe to this point of view
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Iraqis love their children too
We share the same biology
Regardless of ideology
What might save us, me, and you
Is that all of these Presidents love their countries too
